Mark Ghaly, M.D., MPH, California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) secretary, has extended California’s indoor mask mandate by another full month. The masking requirement intended to combat the coronavirus pandemic now runs through February 15. While citing a recent surge in the state’s positivity rate to over 21 percent, Ghaly also noted data on […]
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Fed-OSHA seeks suggestions for strengthening VPP
Fed-OSHA is holding a stakeholder meeting July 17, in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future direction of its Voluntary Protection Programs. The agency’s aim is to “reshape VPP so that it continues to represent safety and health excellence, leverages partner resources, further recognizes the successes of long-term participants, and supports smart program growth.” Fed-OSHA is […]
Curated Content Articles of Interest from Around the Web
- South Carolina is asking a federal court to prevent OSHA from forcing the state to raise its fines for worker safety violations.
- The lawsuit asks the court to urge OSHA from enforcing its requirement that state maximum and minimum fines match those of the federal agency.
- The lawsuit could set a precedent for the other 27 states and territories that have their own federally approved workplace safety agencies to also set lower fine structures.
- Those states include Arizona, Wyoming, Indiana, and Virginia.
- The American Society of Safety Professionals is looking for participants in Safe + Sound Week, an annual workplace safety campaign spearheaded by OSHA.
- The nationwide event takes place Aug. 15-21.
- More than 1,300 businesses have already registered online to join the event, which recognizes the success of workplace safety.
- More than 5,000 workers are killed each year on the job and more than 3.6 million suffer a serious job-related injury or illness, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- A 20-year-old worker was killed at a Nebraska waste disposal company when he fell into the baler, became caught, and suffered severe amputation injuries.
- OSHA alleges Mid-Nebraska Disposal Inc. disregarded federal regulations designed to prevent such tragedies.
- OSHA alleges the company failed to ensure energy sources were locked out, which would have kept the machine’s operating parts from moving while the worker cleared the jam.
- OSHA proposed penalties of $337,903 and has placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
- A wood crate and pallet manufacturer in Jacksonville, Texas, has a history of workplace safety violations that continues after inspectors found the company exposed workers to hazards.
- OSHA determined M&H Crates Inc. failed to develop, document or use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent sudden machine start-ups.
- They also discovered the company failed to ensure required machine guarding, which exposed workers to hazards, including amputation.
- The company faces $248,866 in proposed penalties.
News Digest 8-11-2022
S.C. looking to block OSHA’s increased fines
ASSP is raising awareness of workplace safety
Nebraska waste disposal company faces fines after worker killed
Texas crate company cited for safety violations